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Monday, 29 May 2017

PEACEKEEPERS EARN INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM FOR BANGLADESH

PEACEKEEPERS EARN INTERNATIONAL
ACCLAIM FOR BANGLADESH

Bangladesh has achieved global
credentials as a “role model” to the cause of international peace and security
through its UN peacekeeping missions. The armed forces and police achieved this
acclamation due to their professionalism, commitment, impartiality, integrity
and humane attitude while participating in more than 50 UN missions in about 40
countries in less than three decades. Participating in a round table discussion
on “Bangladesh and UN Peacekeeping: Challenges and Prospects” organised by The
Daily Star Bangladesh, retired top generals and high civil officials said
Bangladesh is now reputed as a nation of peacekeepers.

The round table was organized to
mark the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers to be observed on May
29th 2017. Not only are the Bangladeshi peacekeepers contributing to the peaceful
settlement of international disputes and maintenance of global peace and
security, they are also contributing to the nation-building activities to
supplement UN mandates, they said. As a result, Bangladesh has become the second
language of Sierra Leone, Liberia has named a street of its capital after
Bangladesh, and a few African countries have set up schools naming “Bangladesh
Friendship School”.

Bangladesh armed forces and
police now have the capability to take up any peacekeeping assignment, even in
a hostile situation, in any part of the world because of their commitment and
dedication to global peace and stability, they added. Footprints of Bangladeshi
peacekeepers are now evident in almost all the troubled areas of the world --
from Haiti to East Timor and from Lebanon to Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bangladeshi peacekeepers are in almost everywhere and committed to remaining so
in the days to come, the speakers noted.

Bangladesh began its peace
support mission in 1988 with a contribution of 15 army officers as military
observer to the UN peacekeeping operations in the United Nations Iran-Iraq
Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG). Mentioning that peacekeeping has grown from
monitoring ceasefires to multi-dimensional tasks, the speakers highlighted some
challenges ahead, including countering terrorism. Bangladesh armed forces need
rigorous training on the methods and mechanisms for peace-making and
peace-building, they observed. The discussants pointed out that
peacekeeping is part of Bangladesh's constitution. Article 25(1) states the
importance of promoting international peace and security. The armed forces and
police have fulfilled the dreams of Bangabandhu's declaration of Bangladesh's
commitment to international peace, said Maj Gen (retd) Kazi Ashfaq Ahmed in his
keynote presentation.

There are currently 16
peacekeeping operations led by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. As
of April 30, Bangladesh was the fourth largest contributor to UN peacekeeping
missions with armed forces and police personnel standing at 6,815 in eight
missions. Currently, Ethiopia, India and Pakistan are the top three troop
providers. Bangladesh topped as a troop contributing nation for couple of
times, including in 2015. During yesterday's discussion,
two other keynote papers were presented by Air Commodore (retd) Anisur Rahman
and Commodore (retd) MN Absar. Twenty speakers, including former chiefs and
senior most officials of three forces, former foreign secretaries and
diplomats, police personnel and a university teacher, took part in the
five-hour long discussion.

Former army chief Lt Gen (retd) M Nooruddin
Khan said they had to go through many difficulties at the beginning of the
missions. Even it was a critical decision for the country to send troops to the
UN mission in Kuwait against Saddam Hossain, the then Iraqi president who had
good relations with Bangladesh, he said. Narrating various hostile situations
he faced during his deployment as a peacekeeper in Georgia, former army chief
Lt Gen (retd) M Harun-Ar-Rashid said they fared extremely well in any situation
during the peacekeeping operations.

He suggested conducting an analysis
of the peacekeeping operations participated by the Bangladeshi troops. “We
don't think we have done everything. We have to think and analyse how we could
do better in future.” Air Commodore (retd) Anisur Rahman said the Bangladesh
Air Force (BAF) has earned a good reputation in the UN, but it faces a number
of difficulties in operating and maintaining its forces in mission areas.UN missions might get increased in future and the
BAF should be ready to undertake any mission with its competence. Former navy
chief Rear Admiral (retd) Shah Iqbal Mujtaba said the participation of the navy
was limited compared to the army and the air force. “Nowadays, we have gained
momentum and we will progress Inshallah,” he said, adding that naval ships
joined the UN mission in 2010.

Rear Admiral (retd) ASMA Awal
stressed the need for more vigorous diplomacy so that Bangladesh could get
higher positions in UN headquarters and peacekeeping missions. Highlighting the
foreign ministry's crucial role in negotiating in UN Security Council and other
bodies regarding the country's participation in UN missions, former foreign
secretary Hemayet Uddin said, “To uphold the legacy of Bangladesh, it is
necessary that our professionals develop their skills on key areas of international
diplomacy that go hand in hand with the peacekeeping operations.” The former secretary said the
country's women peacekeepers played an exemplary role in peace-making by
providing comfort to the victims of gender-based violence in war-ravaged countries.
Bangladesh became the world's first all-woman UN peacekeeping contingent, he
said. Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Fazle Elahi Akbar said there were allegations of sexual
abuse involving peacekeepers, but Bangladeshi troops have good reputations in
this regard.

Dhaka University teacher Niloy
Ranjan Biswas said the experience of peacekeepers must be documented
systematically so that the future generation of peacekeepers could learn from
those and develop themselves accordingly. He also said there must be a comprehensive
peacekeeping strategy in the country. Praising their contribution, The Daily
Star Editor and Publisher Bangladesh Mahfuz Anam said, “As soldiers, you are
trained to serve your country. But when you go to another country and serve the
people of those countries, then it really shows your humanity.” “You have
served the people of other countries with great intensity, devotion, humanity
and empathy.”